Witnesses come forward in 13-year-old Bay of Plenty cold case

Robert "Bob" Te Paewhenua Roberts hasn't been seen since November 30, 2004, when his work van careered 250m down a cliff off the Kaimais lookout in Waikato. Photo / File

Two witnesses have come forward in a Bay of Plenty cold case, telling a coroner they believe the missing man is still alive.

Robert Te Paewhenua Roberts hasn't been seen since 2004 when his work van careered off the Kaimai lookout in Waikato.

The van was found 250m down the cliff.

A Swanndri, believed to be the 53-year-old's, was found in a creek bed, and months later blue overalls and brown leather work boots turned up in a hollowed log.

Robert, known as Bob, hasn't been seen since.

Thirteen years later and Coroner Gordon Matenga held an inquest in Hamilton.

Two new witnesses spoken to by Fairfax have submitted statements to the coroner to say they have seen him alive in Tauranga and in Auckland.

The pair were working for Fulton Hogan the day Roberts disappeared.

Brian Worth was at Bayfair Shopping Centre in Tauranga five years ago when he saw Roberts talking with a group of people.

"I was within 3m of him and I locked eyes with him when I walked past," Worth told Fairfax.

Family of missing man Te Paewhenau (Bob) Roberts stand at the top of the cliff in 2004 where his car was driven through a barrier into the Kaimai Ranges. Photo/File

Search and Rescue members look for missing man Te Paewhenau (Bob) Roberts in 2004. Photo/File

"Then it dawned on me - that's Bob.

"I actually thought that seeing him that one time, that the mystery was over," the 62-year-old said.

He remembered the day Roberts went missing - November 30, 2004.

Roberts was working on a site on Oropi Rd and borrowed a colleague's work van.

"He made up some excuse to borrow that van.

"He wasn't going home, it was for some personal reason.

"He was told not to crash it, so it was ironic if he had that in mind."

Worth is confident the man he saw five years ago was Roberts. He signed a sworn statement that was sent to the coroner on Wednesday.

Worth's former Fulton Holgan colleague, Conrad Carroll, also believed he saw him in Auckland a year after he went missing, dressed in overalls, working on the road.

At the inquest, experts said they believe Roberts survived the crash, but that he didn't want to be found.

They said Roberts could have died of hypothermia.

He visited his son, sister and brother on the day of the crash. They told the inquest he was stressed and agitated and had argued with his partner that morning.

Family believe he's still alive.

Roberts' son, Lester Roberts, claims his dad did a runner and is hiding.

"I'm always hopeful that Dad will come home," he said.